Ted Bancroft walking off after walking on for Providence College

Wednesday

Mar 12, 2014 at 12:01 AMMar 12, 2014 at 5:55 AM

Marion's Bancroft has set himself apart and carved out a role on the team. He played in 27 games this season.

JOHN GWYNN

It's Tuesday night and the Dunkin Donuts Center is jam packed. The Providence Friars men's basketball team is 15 minutes away from the tip-off of what will end up being a double overtime grudge match against a very good Marquette University squad. A win in this game means the Friars will earn their 20th of the season, the first time since the 2003-2004 season.

But right before the arena's filled with the sounds of squeaky sneakers, shrill whistles, and "LET'S-GO-FRI-ARS!" chants screamed from the rabid crowd, Marion's Ted Bancroft, accompanied by his mom and dad, is receiving his framed jersey amid cheers from the Friars faithful for his contribution to their basketball team.

"It's a dream come true," Bancroft reflects. "Having my family there and the fans, seeing my jersey framed there, just a great feeling."

The Friars continues their quest for a berth in the NCAA tournament when they open BIG EAST Conference tournament play Thursday at 2:30 against St. John's in the quarterfinals in New York.

After four years on the Providence basketball team, this night will be Bancroft's last home game as a Friar. Graduating from Bishop Stang High School in 2010 having been captain of the Spartans' basketball team, Bancroft came to Providence College hoping to walk on to its Div. I basketball team. As a walk-on, he'd be part of the team's practice squad, take a spot on the bench with players during the game, maybe even get a couple minutes of real playing time each season when the team was either winning or losing by a large amount. For the majority of walk-ons, that's their college career.

But over his tenure with the team, Bancroft was able to set himself apart and carve out a role on the team. By his junior year, Bancroft started to see some real game action. It's not very common for a walk-on to become a playmaker on the team, but there Bancroft was, holding his own on the court and putting up points against Div. I stars and future NBA prospects.

"I always had a lot of confidence in what I was doing," says Bancroft, "and when I was just starting on the team, I was optimistic. 'Maybe I could really do this,' I thought, and once I really focused in and put the time in, I really ran with it (and) became confident in those games."

Friar fans would go nuts every time coach Ed Cooley put him in. The walk-on was finally getting his shot, and he was doing well.

"He's our energy guy," coach Ed Cooley sums up when asked about Bancroft's role on the team. "He comes in, the crowd loves him, he gives us the spark that we need, he's really helped us win some basketball games this year."

In this last home game, the Friars and Marquette Eagles were entwined in a close game, a two or three point deficit through 40 minutes. Bancroft saw a little time during regulation, but as the team started to slow down during their second overtime, Cooley sent in their energy guy to rally the Friars, who were down three baskets with 30 seconds to go.

After four years of working with the team, putting in his time, Bancroft was being put in the big game, a moment every athlete dreams of.

"Playing in at the end of a big double OT means everything," recounts Bancroft. "Just the fact that I was be able to spend the last 30 seconds on the court in front of the crowd in this big game was unbelievable. I had family members come from Connecticut and New Hampshire, and just to see this last game, it's more than I could have imagined."

And with some new blood in the line-up, the team dug deep and as the buzzer rang, Bancroft and the Friars had overcome the deficit and clinched their 20th win of the season. The walk-on was now walking off the court amid deafening cheers from the hometown crowd with a big win for his last home game.

"I don't look at Ted as a walk-on," says coach Ed Cooley. "I look at him as a valuable member of our team. He's played a lot of minutes for us here and I'm proud of him. He's a big part of our family and we couldn't be here without him."

Though the Friars' regular season is over, Bancroft still has the chance to extend his senior season with a potential bid in the NCAA tournament, something all college basketball players hope to play in during their career.

"NCAA tournament would just cap off my career," Bancroft says. "It'd be the perfect ending to my story, but it's all been such a great time just being able to play for Providence."

"I always hope all our players take away gratitude and appreciation when they leave," says Cooley. "That's the standard that we set. That they appreciate wearing a Providence College uniform and what it represents."

As Bancroft left the court that night, framed jersey in hand, surrounded by family and walking through the throngs of Friars fans, Bancroft was just taking it all in and appreciating every moment of this night.

"I'll miss my teammates when it's all over, but all the connections and the spirit of the city "» Providence is a small city but when you come to the games, you realize how much the crowd cares about the team and it just makes you a believer. I've enjoyed every minute of it."